[Article originally appeared in Besheva (Hebrew) and translated by Hillel Fendel]
by Assaf Mishnayot
B'sheva, Nov. 15, '18
Deterrence vis-à-vis Hamas
has not been achieved, and the present quiet is simply a lull, with no
guarantee that it will last for any length of time. The intensive Hamas rocket
barrage inflicted last week on Israel's northern Negev areas, all the way up to
Ashkelon, proved that the country's political and military echelons have no
real plan or program as to how to deal with Hamas. It is doubtful whether we will
be able to attain true quiet along Israel's Gaza border for a significant
period.
The ceasefire declared on Tuesday of
last week, immediately following a 24-hour bombardment of more than 450 Hamas
rockets on Israeli towns and cities, was met with fury in the Israeli public.
This was true particularly in the south, where it is known and felt that the
next round of hostilities is just around the corner. Though the Israel Air
Force made some impressive strikes against terror infrastructures in Gaza, it
was Hamas and not Israel that smelled the fragrance of victory. The basic sense
is that the IDF simply is not providing military solutions to the Gaza problem
– and this has been borne out even by statements of the Security Cabinet
members.
